Ziprasidone Capsules

Warning

There is a higher chance of death in older adults who take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) for mental problems caused by dementia. Most of the deaths were
linked to heart disease or infection. This medicine is not approved to treat mental problems caused by dementia.

Uses of Ziprasidone Capsules:

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Ziprasidone Capsules?

If you have an allergy to ziprasidone or any other part of this medicine (ziprasidone capsules).

If you are allergic to any drugs like this one, any other drugs, foods, or other substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what
signs you had, like rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other signs.

If you have ever had a long QT on ECG or other heartbeat that is not normal.

If you are taking any drugs that can cause a certain type of heartbeat that is not normal (prolonged QT interval). There are many drugs
that can do this. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

If you are breast-feeding. Do not breast-feed while you take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules).

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine (ziprasidone capsules).

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check
to make sure that it is safe for you to take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of
any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Ziprasidone Capsules?

Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) affects you.

To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down
stairs.

Dizziness, sleepiness, and feeling less stable may happen with this medicine (ziprasidone capsules). These may lead to falling. Broken bones or other health problems
can happen from falling. Talk with the doctor.

Low white blood cell counts have happened with drugs like this one. This may lead to a higher chance of getting an infection. Deadly
infections have rarely happened. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a low white blood cell count. Call your doctor right away if you have
signs of infection like fever, chills, or sore throat. Talk with your doctor.

A very bad and sometimes deadly reaction has happened with this medicine (ziprasidone capsules). Most of the time, this reaction has signs like fever, rash, or
swollen glands with problems in body organs like the liver, kidney, blood, heart, muscles and joints, or lungs. Talk with the doctor.

Some people who take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) may get a very bad muscle problem called tardive dyskinesia. This muscle problem may not go away even if
this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) is stopped. Sometimes, signs may lessen or go away over time after this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) is stopped. The risk of tardive dyskinesia may be
greater in people with diabetes and in older adults, especially older women. The risk is also greater the longer you take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) or with
higher doses. Muscle problems may also occur after short-term use with low doses. Call your doctor right away if you have trouble controlling
body movements or if you have muscle problems with your tongue, face, mouth, or jaw like tongue sticking out, puffing cheeks, mouth puckering,
or chewing.

Call your doctor right away if you have a painful erection (hard penis) or an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours. This may happen
even when you are not having sex. If this is not treated right away, it may lead to lasting sex problems and you may not be able to have sex.

An unsafe heartbeat that is not normal (long QT on ECG) has happened with this medicine (ziprasidone capsules). This may raise the chance of sudden death. Talk with
the doctor.

If you are 65 or older, use this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) with care. You could have more side effects.

Older adults with dementia taking drugs like this one have had a higher number of strokes. Sometimes these strokes have been deadly. This
drug is not approved to treat mental problems caused by dementia. Talk with your doctor.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this medicine (ziprasidone capsules)
while you are pregnant.

Taking this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) in the third trimester of pregnancy may lead to muscle movements that cannot be controlled and withdrawal in the newborn.
Talk with the doctor.

How is this medicine (Ziprasidone Capsules) best taken?

Use this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

It may take a few weeks to see the full effect.

Take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) with food.

Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.

Take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) at the same time of day.

To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.

Keep taking this medicine (ziprasidone capsules) as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

Talk with your doctor before you use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions.

High blood sugar or diabetes, high cholesterol, and weight gain have happened with drugs like this one. These changes may raise the chance
of heart and brain blood vessel disease. Talk with the doctor.

Check your blood sugar as you have been told by your doctor.

Tell all of your health care providers that you take this medicine (ziprasidone capsules). This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it, with food.

If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.

Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

See also:

What are some side effects that I need to call my doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your
doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing;
tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue,
or throat.

Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or
breath that smells like fruit.

Mental, mood, or behavior changes that are new or worse.

If you are planning to harm yourself or the want to harm yourself gets worse.

A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may
not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without
fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.

A very bad and sometimes deadly health problem called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may happen. Call your doctor right away if you
have any fever, muscle cramps or stiffness, dizziness, very bad headache, confusion, change in thinking, fast heartbeat, heartbeat that does
not feel normal, or are sweating a lot.

What are some other side effects of Ziprasidone Capsules?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical
help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

See also:

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was
taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Ziprasidone Capsules?

Store at room temperature.

Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.

Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.

Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your
pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

Consumer information use

If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.

Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.

Keep a list of all your drugs (prescription, natural products, vitamins, OTC) with you. Give this list to your doctor.

Talk with the doctor before starting any new drug, including prescription or OTC, natural products, or vitamins.

Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this medicine (ziprasidone capsules), please talk
with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was
taken, how much, and when it happened.

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Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 1 May 2019), Cerner Multum™ (updated 2 May 2019), Wolters Kluwer™ (updated 1 May 2019) and others.